Israel launches new Syria strikes amidst Druze tensions

Syria's Islamist rulers denounced an air strike near the presidential palace as a "dangerous escalation", as Israel reportedly launched its heaviest barrage this year on the country. Israel said the Damascus strike was a "clear message" to the government not to harm the Druze minority, following recent sectarian clashes. Hours later, Israel staged more than 20 strikes on military targets across Syria, according to the war monitor, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The strikes came after D